TOKYO — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. is dissolving its motorsports subsidiary and transferring its operations to a new internal motorsports department to be formally established May 1.
Moving the Tokyo-based unit in-house will help to "expand and broaden [Yokohama's] motorsports activities around the world," Yokohama said in an April 27 news release.
Since April 2013, the Yokohama Motorsports International Co. Ltd. subsidiary has led the Japanese group's motorsports activities, including the development and supply of tires for competitions. These events have included the Super Formula Championship series, GT Asia, the Sepang 12 Hours endurance race, the All-Japan Formula 3 Championship Series, and the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).
Yokohama said its motorsports activities "contribute to the globalization of the company's tire business and greater recognition of the Yokohama brand."